Maria Tanikawa was born in 1978 and grew up in Tokyo. After obtaining a BFA at Tama Art University in Japanese Painting Fine Arts(NIHONGA) in 2005, moved to New York City 2007.

Her artwork is based on NIHONGA method. Primarily, She works with sumi-ink, dry jewel pigments and metal leaf (gold, silver, copper and aluminum). Even when working with a two-dimensional work,
striving to create rich textures, reflection and space by using many layers of ink, metal leaf and pigment thus allowing her to capture the feeling of a three-dimensional piece. As a result of
this process of layering materials. Another important aspect in her artwork is the composition of metal which creates shifting colors. The fact that metal can change color on its own as time goes
by compliments the theme of her work. The theme of my art is “HUMAN FEELING: emotional life.” The roots of her art lies in organic abstraction – fascinated by human emotions – for example, hope,
sadness, confusion and love. And interested in the relationships or connections that exist in our minds between ideas and images such as color, sound, rhythm and movement. Currently she has
"Nihonga class" in New York City and Tokyo.